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NOTES  ON  CAMOUFLAGE 


EDITED  AT  THE  ARMY  WAR  COLLEGE 
SEPTEMBER,  1917 


WASHINGTON 
GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE 

1917 


r   T    /     J 


WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

Document  No.  663, 

Office  of  The  Adjutant  General. 


War  Department, 
The  Adjutant  General's  Office, 

Washington,  June  19,  1917. 
To  all  officers  of  the  Army: 

You  are  advised  that  this  and  all  subsequent  documents  of  a 
similar  character  which  may  be  furnished  to  you  from  this  office 
^re  to  be  regarded  as  strictly  confidential.  They  are  to  be  kept 
at  all  times  in  your  personal  possession,  and  are  ii(\t  to  be  copied, 
nor  are  any  parts  of  their  contents  to  be  comiiiuni'(_^ii,tt^d  .father 
directly  or  indirectly  to  the  press  nor  to  any  j^ersons  not  in  the 
military  or  naval  service  of  the  United  Stat^^s.  Jn,  I^urojj^  t'li^oe ; 
documents  are  not  to  be  carried  into  the  froiit-line'tr'e'nbhes',  liOr' 
farther  to  the  front  than  the  usual  post  of  the  officers  to  whom 
issued. 

Strict  compliance  with  this  injunction  is  enjoined  upon  every 
officer  into  whose  hands  any  of  these  confidential  documents 
may  come. 

By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War  : 

H.  P.  McCain, 

T/ie  Adjutant  General. 


War  Department, 
M'ashiugton,  September  12,  1917. 
The  following  pamphlet,  "  Notes  on  Camouflage,"  is  published 
for  the  information  of  all  concerned. 
[062.1  A.  G.  O.] 
By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War  : 

H.  L.  SCOTT, 
Major  General,  Chief  of  Staff. 
Official  : 

H.  P.  McCAIN, 

The  Adjutant  General. 

142G4— 17  (3) 


6 643 V 4 


NOTES  ON  CAMOUFLAGE. 


I.  CONCEALMENT. 

Concealment  fkom  aekoplane  view. — Emplacements,  etc.,  are 
given  away  by — 

1.  Shadows. 

2.  Earthwork,  traces  of  work,  movement. 

3.  Tracks,  blastmarks,  flashes.  •     '    '-^  ■    "- 

1.  MEANS  OF  CONCEALMENJ.    .     .  '    ' 

(a)  Painted  canvas. 

(&)   Raffia  on  wire  netting. 

(c)   Strips  of  canvas  on  wire  netting.     (Vide  p.  8,  par.  7.) 

Supplied  by  S.  W.  P. 

(a)    CANVAS. 

Should  always  be  sloped  (at  least  30°)  over  raised  objects  in 
order  to  eliminate  shadow. 

Must  cover  every  particle  of  earthwork  marks,  materials 
used  whilst  working,  etc. 

Should  be  supported  throughout;  if  not, flapping  caused  by 
wind  will  shake  all  color  out  and  rip  canvas. 

Straight  lines  must  be  broken  up. 

(h)    KAFFIA  NETTING. 

Surface  about  half  covered  with  raffia  (Gardener's  bast,  dyed). 

In  most  cases  advisable  to  supplement  with  local  grass,  espe- 
cially over  chalk,  new  sandbags,  etc. 

Can  be  imitated  locally  with  bunches  of  hay  tied  firmly  on 
netting  and  painted  lightly. 

(C)    CANVAS   STRIPS. 

Colored  strips  about  10  inches  long,  f  inch  wide,  knotted  on 
wire  netting,  are  an  excellent  substitute  for  raffia.  Torn  painted 
-canvas  can  be  used. 

(5) 


6 

2.  GENERAL. 

Generally  speaking,  all  three  above-mentioned  materials  are 
equally  satisfactory,  but  (&)  and  (c)  are  lighter  and  do  not 
offer  much  resistance  to  wind,  blast,  etc. 

Absolutely  necessary  to  study  surroundings  and  apply  suit- 
able camouflage,  especially  as  regards  canvas  supplied  in  bulk 
by  S.  W.  P.  E.  g.,  do  not  use  a  "  grass  and  earth  "  canvas  on  a 
chalk  heap — sounds  unlikely  but  actually  happens. 

Most  essential — not  to  start  work  until  arrangements  for 
concealing  and  keeping'  concealed  are  completed. 

Application  of  concealment  after  work  is  finished  only  draws 
attention  to  fact  that  there  is  something  worth  concealing. 

'  ^  3.  COLOR. 

';l.t.  is'ljat.stifficlenfe'to  paint  a  canvas  merely  grass  green — such 
a  canvas  will  show  up  light  in  a  photograph  and  look  like  a  plane 
surface.  There  must  be  shading  to  give  idea  of  depth  and  form ; 
without  this,  color  is  absolutely  useless. 

If  painting  canvases  locally,  in  oil  paints,  be  sure  to  use  flat 
colors  (flattened  by  adding  excess  of  turps)  to  prevent  shinjr 
surface,  and  never  store  folded  up,  as  there  is  danger  of  spon- 
taneous combustion. 

Canvas  will  not  stand  close  direct  view — raflia  will 

4.  ROAD   SCREENS. 

Under  conditions  of  light  and  angle  of  vision  most  favorable 
to  enemy  about  4,000  yards  off,  wire  netting  requires  about  two- 
thirds  of  the  surface  covered  to  conceal  movement. 

Material  (such  as  branches,  bunches  of  hay,  canvas  strips, 
raffia  supplemented  with  local  vegetation)  that  will  stir  in  a 
breeze  is  better  than  threaded  strips. 

5.  PAINTING   SOLID   OBJECTS. 

Not  much  use  painting  solid  objects  to  harmonize  with  sur- 
roundings unless  a  very  long  stay  in  the  neighborhood  is  ex- 
pected. 

Better,  therefore,  aim  at  destroying  identity  by  use  of  large,, 
bold  patches  of  green,  cream,  brown,  with  black  definitions  be- 
tween each  color  about  i-inch  broad. 


Green  and  brown  both  occur  frequently  in  nature;  cream 
color  is  useful  to  separate  them.  Objects  should  be  split  up 
into  numbers  of  dissociated  pieces. 

Paint  dark  on  top;  light  underneath.  Never  stop  pattern  on 
an  edge,  but  continue  over  it. 

II.  O.  P.'S. 

1.  PARAPET. 

The  exact  position  having  been  chosen,  S.  W.  P.  requires  to 
know  following  details: 

(a)    SANDBAG    PARAPET. 

Regular  or  irregular.  |  In  this  case  dummy  front  is  three  sand- 
Color  and  condition.    I     bags  high. 
Distance  from  enemy.]  Observer  up  to  his  neck  in  ground. 

(&)    SANDBAG    BREASTWORK. 


Regular  or  irregular. 
Color  and  condition. 
Distance  from  enemy. 


Dummy  front,  four  sandbags  high,  ob- 
server lying;  otherwise,  as  dummy 
must  be  in  front  line  of  breastworks, 
the  chest  and  body  would  require 
special  protection. 


(C)    EARTH    PARAPET. 


Observer  up  to  his  neck 
in  ground. 


Color  and  condition;  i.  e.,  grassy 

mixed  up  with  sandbags. 
Distance  from  enemy. 

N.  B. — Because  a  parapet  happens  to  be  revetted  with  sand- 
bags, it  does  not  necessarily  follow  that  the  front  is  sandbags. 
Often  it  is  earth  and  rubbish  accumulated  from  trench  cleanings. 
It  is  essential  to  get  a  view  from  the  front.  This  is  to  insure 
suitable  camouflage  cover. 

2.  GAUZE. 

Observation  loophole  is  concealed  by  painted  gauze. 

Over  200  yards  this  may  impede  perfect  view  with  glasses, 
but  it  is  absolutely  necessary  to  hide  loopholes  at  short  range, 
otherwise  O.  P.  is  bound  to  be  discovered ;  where,  as  has  hap- 
pened, in  one  or  two  cases,  observers  deliberately  removed  gauze, 
the  O.  P.  was  shelled  immediately. 


Above  200  yards  slits  can  be  made  in  gauze  without  danger 
if  done  carefully,  i.  e.,  by  cutting  them  where  there  would  be 
a  natural  shadow,  and  not  too  big. 

Nothing  is  so  conspicuous  as  a  black  hole. 

Good  observation  and  invisibility  are  better  than  perfect  ob- 
servation and  insecurity. 

3.   PERISCOPES. 

Periscopes  have  limitations.  Heights  supplied  :  7  feet  6  inches 
and  10  feet  6  inches. 

(i)  Magnification  about  li,  i.  e.,  practically  equal  to  human 
eye  after  allowing  for  optical  losses,  field  about  14°.  Greater 
magnification  means  smaller  field. 

(ii)  Expensive  and  delicate  instruments  easily  damaged  if 
tampered  with.    Unfortunately  this  is  only  too  common. 

They  ought  never  to  be  touched  except  to  lower  and  clean 
object  and  eye  glasses  with  something  clean  and  soft,  for 
lenses  are  easily  scratched.  The  lowering  and  cleaning  can  be 
done  without  dismantling. 

(iii)  Very  difficult  to  procure;  every  periscope  tampered 
with  means  one  O.  P.  less,  as  they  will  not  be  replaced. 

They  are  only  installed  where  no  means  of  direct  vision  is 
possible. 

4.  TREES. 

In  selecting  sites  for  "  tree  O.  P."  to  hold  observer,  follow- 
ing points  are  important : 

(1)  Possibility  of  making  approach  invisible  from  air  or 
direct  view. 

(2)  Possibility  of  draining  foundation. 

(3)  Certainty  of  seeing  what  it  is  wanted  to  observe  at  a 
height  of  about  16  or  18  feet. 

The  observer  is  rarely  put  higher,  though  dummy  tree  itself 
may  be  much  higher. 

(4)  Absence  of  anything  near  spot  (T.  M.,  for  example)  that 
is  normally  subject  to  shelling.  Actual  damage  to  tree  may 
reveal  the  idea. 

5.   GENERAL. 

S.  W.  p.  carry  out  the  erection  of  all  these  O.  P.'s — the  pre- 
paratory work  being  completed  by  local  troops  before  night  of 
erection,  in  accordance  with  plans  sent  up  beforehand  by 
S.  W.  P. 


III.  SUGGESTIONS. 

A  few  examples  are  given  here  to  suggest  possibilities  and  to 
promote  new  ideas. 
Concealment  of — 
(i)  T.  M.  Emplacement. 

Painted  shell  hole. 

Remains  of  R.  E.  dump, 
(ii)  Tracks. 

(a)  Grass  or  canvas  pergola. 

(&)  Confusion  of  tracks  not  stopping  at  real  emplace- 
ment, but  continuing  to  dummy  one. 

(c)  Continuing  track  (canvas)  right  over  emplacement, 
(iii)  Blast  mark. 

Removable  canvas  or  raffia, 
(iv)   Sniper's  post. 

(a)  In  making  sandbag  parapets,  have  many  of  the 
"  choke  ends  "  outward.  These  "  chokes  "  distract  eye 
and  make  it  easy  to  conceal  holes  in  parapet. 

(&)   Select  parapet  well  covered  with  old  tins. 
(v)  Any  hole. 

Painted  gauze, 
(vi)  Gun  emplacement. 

R.  E.  dump, 
(vii)  Road. 

Screen. 

If  there  is  a  wall  on  your  side  of  road,  erect  dummy 
wall  on  enemy  side  and  remove  real  wall,  if  necessary. 

IV.  CAMOUFLAGE  DEMANDS. 

All  demands  should  go  through  corps  and  army  to  S.  W.  P. 
and  not  to  any  detachment  of  it. 

Specify  how  object  or  material  is  to  be  sent,  i.  e.,  by  M.  F.  O. 
or  by  your  lorries. 

1.  O.  P.  (other  than  parapet),  ask  for  officer  of  S.  W.  P.  to 
make  reconnaissance. 

2.  Parapet  O.  P.'s  or  sniper's  posts. — S.  W.  P.  require  to 
know  details  already  enumerated  in  Section  II.  1. 

3.  Covers  for  emplacements,  etc. — S.  W.  P.  make  up  canvas 
to  required  size  from  rolls  6  feet  wide. 

Do  not  ask  for  so  many  yards  of  "  canvas  painted  green  "  or 
"  mats." 


10 

Following  details  are  necessary: 

(i)   Dimensions. — The  smaller  being  some  multiple  of  G  feet. 

(ii)   Type  of  ground. — Before  work  is  begun. 

(iii)  Type  of  gun — or  other  purpose,  e.  g.,  T.  M. — trench — 
dump — shell  store,  etc. 

(iv)  Whether  liable  to  close  direct  view  or  only  view  from 
aeroplane  or  balloon. 

The  normal  size  of  canvas  recommended  for  various  per- 
manent emplacements  is  as  follows : 

18-pounder,  6-inch  howitzer,  36  by  36  feet.]  Subject    to    varia- 

8-inch,  9.2-inch  howitzer,  48  by  48  feet.       I     tion'    in     special 

60-pounder,  48  by  50  feet.  )      circumstances. 

4.  Raffia. — Is  normally  supplied  in  rolls  10  yards  long  by  6 
feet  wide. 

5.  Screens  for  special  purposes,  such  as  flash — road — ask  for 
S.  W.  P.  officer. 

6.  "  Brickwork,"  "  tiles,"  can  be  furnished  from  stock  giving 
description,  dimensions,  and  purpose. 

7.  Painted  canvas  strips  for  knotting  on  to  wire  netting  can 
be  furnished  from  stock— specialy  suitable  for  road  screening. 

8.  Snipers'  suits. — Accurate  description  of  locality  in  which 
they  are  to  be  used  is  necessary. 

9.  Portable  0.  P.'s  for  sentries — armored  or  unarmored — 
can  be  made  representing  common  objects  of  front  line,  such 
as  a  turf,  a  petrol  tin,  discarded  equipment,  a  sandbag,  etc. 

When  asking  for  camouflage  you  can  not  send  too  many 

DETAILS. 

V.  TRANSPORT. 

Canvas: 

One  3-ton  lorry  takes  4,000  square  yards. 

One  30-hundredweight  lorry  takes  2,000  square  yards. 

One  box  car  takes  1,000  square  yards. 
Raffia: 

One  3-ton  or  30-hundredweight  lorry  takes  50  rolls. 

One  box  car  takes  10  rolls. 

o 


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